autoreactive antibodies

Hi.
Anti-DNA Ab's may be divided into several groups. Several of them react
against DNA associated proteins (e.g. histones). This may give some
explanation regarding antigen presentation, although DNA is not a peptide.
Some of these Ab's, are reactive also against positively charged groups
such as phospholipids. Thus, the creation of such antibodies is not
nessecarily against DNA. Molecular mimicry may be playing a great role
here.
If "cryptic" peptide regions on self antigens (i.e. areas on self Ag's not
being normally presented to the immune system) are presented as "dominant"
by a mimicing antigen (i.e. the same area will be proccessed as an
immunogenic peptide), an auto-immune situation may arise. Thus, the self
DNA molecules are not nessecarily the immunogenic molecule.
Regarding the enterance of Ab's to the cell. This probably, is NOT the
mechanism. A "normal" cell destruction may start a local immune reaction
of anti DNA Ab's. This reaction will cause an aggregation of immune
complexes in-situ. These complexes will damage the tissue further, as the
reaction progresses and enhances, in a non-specific manner. As the
reaction progresses further, Phospholipids may serve as sites of reactivity
as well.
Any comments are highly welcome.
Sincerely, Benny Shomer.
**************************************************************
* Benny Shomer *
* Tel-Aviv University *
* Sackler School of Medicine, Dept.of Embryology and Teratology*
*--------------------------------------------------------------*
* Snail: Ramat-Aviv , Tel-Aviv 69978 , Israel. *
* E-mail : pc386 at ccsg.tau.ac.il *
* Tel : 972-3-640-9238 FAX : 972-3-642-2046 *
* *
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% So Many Computers , So Little Time ... %
% %
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%